OLED Microdisplays

A few weeks ago it was reported that Apple is aiming to develop a lower-cost VR headset, and will want to use cheaper OLED microdisplays to replace the high-end Sony OLED microdisplays used in the Vision Pro. It was reported that both Samsung and JDI are in talks with Apple, that aims to achieve a pixel density of 1500 PPI (the Sony microdisplays sport 3,400 PPI). Samsung meanwhile develops its own headsets, and is also working on solutions for other leading companies, such as Microsoft.

A 1.3" 12000 nits OLED microdisplay (Samsung Display)

While Samsung is working on an OLED on silicon microdisplay factory, the company is also looking to start producing high resolution AMOLED displays on glass. According to a new report, Samsung is now looking to build a new AMOLED on glass microdisplay pilot production line in Asan, and later on the company is considering to converts its 5.5-Gen (1300x1500 mm) A2 OLED production line to produce OLED microdisplays. Samsung will have to modify its production process and install new equipment to support the high resolution. The company reportedly aims to order the required  equipment in 2025.

Sony announced a new OLED Microdisplay, the ECX350F, a 0.44" 120Hz 1920x1080 (FHD) microdisplay that offers the world's highest brightness at 10,000 nits. It also offers the world's smallest pixel size at 5.1 um (the PPI is around 5,000).

Sony says that in order to reach this high brightness, it adopted a new OLED stack structure, a new "semiconductor process" and added a microlens array on top of the display. In addition, the bezel size of the new display is exceptionally small, with only 1.14 mm of added bezel on the long side of the display on both top and bottom.

There's an interesting report in Korea that claims that Apple is developing an entry-level MR headset, and is looking to adopt TFT based AMOLED displays, as opposed to the currently-used OLED microdisplays. It is reported that both JDI and Samsung are in talks with Apple, and have been requested to develop lower-cost TFT AMOLEDs with a pixel density of 1,500 PPI (down from 3,400 PPI high-end Sony microdisplays used in the Vision Pro).

It is understood that JDI has already developed the technology and produced 1,500 PPI samples for Apple. Interestingly it is reported that the JDI displays uses Sony's technology, although it is not stated which technology exactly. Samsung meanwhile is also developing 1,500 PPI AMOLEDs at its A2 fab. Apple's target is to release the headset at around 2026-2027 and by then it is likely that more OLED producers (such as LG Display) will develop similar displays. 

During the company's 2024 Innovation Partner Conference, BOE unveiled its latest OLED microdisplay. The display is a 0.9" 4K (6020 PPI) panel, that is based on a tandem OLED architecture. It achieves a maximum brightness of 5,000 nits.

BOE has also unveiled ultra-light (150 grams) VR glasses based on these displays. It is not clear whether this is a product that BOE aims to commercialize, or a reference design, or a product produced by one of its partners.

According to reports, Meta has decided to cancel one of its VR projects that was planned for 2027. This device was to be a high-end product, similar to Apple's Vision Pro - with a similar high price tag. Following the poor market reaction for Apple's Vision Pro, Meta decided to scrap the project.

The original Oculus Rift

Meta was planning to use OLED microdisplays in its upcoming high-end headset, as these are the best performing displays for such products. It is reported that one of the reasons that Meta is not proceeding with its project is the high price of the OLEDs. These are expensive displays indeed - according to some estimates, Apple is paying $350 for each display, which means around $700 for each headset. On the other hand, it is estimated that OLED microdisplay prices are set to drop sharply in the near future as new capacity comes online, and new players (including Samsung and LGD) start producing displays. 

Samsung Display demonstrated a new OLED microdisplay at K-Display 2024, a 1.3" 12,000 nits 4000 PPI display. It is not clear whether this display is a direct-emission display, or one that uses white OLEDs with color filters.

Samsung Display's CEO, Choi Joo-seon, said during the conference that SDC will soon commercialize OLED microdisplays based on eMagin's direct-patterning deposition technology (SDC acquired eMagin in 2023). Choi says that the price of OLED microdisplays is an important differentiating factor. Last week Omdia estimated that the price of OLED microdisplays is set to decline sharply in the near future.

According to Omdia, the price of OLED microdisplays is expected to drop rapidly in the next few years, as production capacity grows, new OLED producers join the industry,  and as wafers sizes increases as well which improves production efficiency. 

Interestingly Omdia acknowledges that new technologies are set to improve the performance of OLED microdispalys - such as tandem architectures, direct emission, and more. These technologies will increase the cost of production, and it's not clear whether Omdia takes that into account in their estimates above, or whether they assume 

According to reports from Korea, Microsoft has signed an agreement with Samsung Display for the supply of OLED microdisplays for a future MX device, that Microsoft plans to launch in the future (likely 2026 or later).

Microsoft agreed to order a few hundreds of thousands of units of Samsung's OLED microdisplays. Samsung Display is collaborating with Samsung System LSI, that will design the CMOS backplane, which will be produced by Samsung Foundry. Samsung Display will handle the frontplane OLED deposition and encapsulation.

DSCC says that display makers are increasing their OLED CapEx investment as demand for OLED displays is on the rise. DSCC has raised its forecast for OLED spending by 14% compared to their previous update, while they retain their previous forecast for LCD, OLED microdisplay and microLED display equipment spending. 

Between 2020 and 2027, OLED display makers will invest $44 billion in new production equipment. The spending on OLED equipment will keep growing year after year from 2023 to 2027, reaching $6.5 billion in 2027, as OLED penetration in the smartphone, tablet and laptop market is increasing, and fab utilization is increasing too, encouraging display makers to add capacity.

A few months ago researchers from the Fraunhofer IPMS announced that they have developed semi-transparent yellow high resolution OLED microdisplays, that are significantly lighter than conventional combiner-based optical see-through near-to-eye systems. 

The Fraunhofer IPMS now announced that it has managed to increase the transparency of these microdisplays to 45%.